The Axis of Resistance

An unconventional alliance has come to define the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has been building a sprawling web of regional allies—from Hezbollah in Lebanon to Shiite militias in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza—aimed at challenging what it sees as a U.S.-led regional order and Israel’s military supremacy. But after decades of expansion, has this "Axis of Resistance" reached its breaking point?

In this path-breaking book, leading foreign policy analyst Hamidreza Azizi traces the rise, transformation, and fragmentation of the Axis. From its roots in local resistance movements to its peak under Qasem Soleimani and involvement in the Israeli—Palestinian conflict, the network now faces an existential threat. As the war in Gaza rages on, Azizi situates the Axis within its broader ideological and strategic context and examines the competing visions for regional order in the Middle East. The Axis of Resistance offers a vital guide to one of the most consequential and misunderstood political-military alliances in contemporary international affairs.